The Warriors are currently fifth in the GLIAC standings.

Women's Basketball 1/11/2022 3:00:00 PM Zachary Manning, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Women's Basketball Returns Home to Face Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan

The Warriors are fresh off of a win over Ferris State on Jan. 6.

STORYLINES
After falling in heartbreaking fashion on Jan. 2 against GLIAC co-leader Saginaw Valley State, Wayne State rebounded to defeat the other GLIAC co-leader in Ferris State on Jan. 6. The Warriors downed the Bulldogs 60-45 in Big Rapids.

Michigan Tech (4-1 GLIAC) sits just ahead of WSU (3-2 GLIAC) in the GLIAC standings, making this another pivotal game for the Warriors early in conference play. The Huskies, however, have lost three of their last four contests.

Northern Michigan hasn't played since defeating Finlandia back on Jan. 2. However, the Wildcats have won each of their last two contests by more than 20 points heading into Thursday's tilt at Saginaw Valley State.

SERIES HISTORY
WSU is 20-42 all-time versus Michigan Tech, with the Huskies have taken six of the last 10 meetings. The Warriors have notched 12 of those 20 wins on their home floor. Wayne State is 3-3 in its last six home contests vs. MTU.

The Warriors are 24-34 all-time against Northern Michigan, but the Green and Gold are 14-13 at home versus the Wildcats. The two clubs have split their last 10 meetings. WSU had won six straight at home until NMU's 69-56 triumph on January 3, 2019.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Michigan Tech leans on the play of Ellie Mackay, who is third in the GLIAC in points per game, pouring in 17.9 points per contest. She is shooting better than 45 percent from the field, and nearly 36 percent from beyond the arc.

Aiding Mackay are the two most efficient shooters in the conference in Alex Rondorf and Katelyn Meister. Rondorf leads the GLIAC in field goal percentage at .574, while Meister is second at .563. Both players average more than 10 points per contest. Additionally, Daisy Ansel leads the squad in rebounds (5.3) and assists (2.7).

As a team, the Huskies are second in the league in points per game (73.0) and first in field goal percentage (.466).

Northern Michigan boasts one of the best players in the league in Makaylee Kuhn. Kuhn is currently ranked in the top five in the league in points (16.1) and rebounds per game (7.7). She is also top 10 in assists per contest (3.6).

Defensively, a name to watch will be Ana Rhude, who has swatted a team-high 14 shots in 11 games off the bench.

The Wildcats rank second in the GLIAC in rebounds per game (41.9), rebounding margin (+10.7) and points per game allowed (56.7).

LAST TIME OUT
In a battle between two of the GLIAC's best squads, Wayne State was able to down league co-leader Ferris State, 60-45, Jan. 6 at Jim Wink Arena.

The Warriors got off to a fast start, tallying the first six points of the game before Ferris State's Zoe Anderson drained a triple. Sam Cherney had four of those six points, while Emma Anderson chipped in with a bucket. The Green and Gold led 6-3 midway through the first period. The two squads traded buckets down the stretch of the first stanza, with the Warriors taking a 10-7 lead into the second quarter. Cherney had 10 rebounds in the first quarter and finished with a career-high 21 boards.

Kate Sherwood started the second period scoring with a conventional three-point play. Just a few moments later, Sherwood buried a triple to extend the Warriors' lead to nine (16-7). Ferris State would stop the run with a lay-up, which cut the Green and Gold's advantage to 16-9 at the 8:23 mark. Later in the quarter, Sherwood added two more points at the free throw line to push the Warriors' lead back to nine (18-9). However, a three pointer and lay-up cut that lead to four (18-14) with just under four minutes to play in the half.

The Warriors had a seven point lead (21-14), thanks to a triple by Cherney with 3:34 left in the quarter. Sherwood continued her strong stanza by sinking another pair of free throws with just over two minutes to play in the first half, stretching WSU's lead to nine. A Bulldogs three pointer was followed by another Sherwood basket, helping the Warriors take a 25-17 lead into the intermission. Sherwood had 14 points at the half as she out-scored FSU 12-10 in the second quarter.

Wayne State took control of the game in the third period, out-scoring the Bulldogs 16-5. Buckets by Cherney and Becca Fugate helped the Warriors build a 12-point lead (29-17) before a Ferris State three-point play trimmed the lead to single digits. From there, Sherwood added a lay-up before a pair of threes from Alexis Miller and Anderson stretched the Warriors lead to 37-20 with 4:26 to play in the frame.

Maxine Moore and Sherwood added more to the lead with a pair of two-point baskets, and the Green and Gold took a 41-22 lead into the final stanza.

Though FSU started to hit some shots from beyond the arc, Sherwood connected on a pair of baskets and was able to keep the Warriors in front by a sizable margin. The Green and Gold led by 17 midway through the final period. The Bulldogs continued to knock down shots down the stretch, but Shea Tripp, Fugate and Cherney each drained two free throws to keep the Bulldogs in check. In the end, the Warriors would defeat FSU 60-45.

NATIONAL RANKINGS
WSU enters the week ranked second in defensive rebounds per game (32.7), seventh in rebounding margin (+10.9), ninth in rebounds per game (46.0), 19th in field goal percentage defense (.341), 21st in blocks per game (4.7), tied-for-34th in fewest fouls (157), and tied-for-46th in blocked shots (47).

The Warriors currently lead the GLIAC in rebounds and blocks per game, along with offensive rebounds per game (13.3).

Individually, Sam Cherney is tied-for-eighth in blocked shots per game (2.7), 12th in rebounds per game (11.6), 13th in defensive rebounds per game (8.1), tied-for-18th in blocks shots (27), tied-for-34th in double-doubles (5), and tied-for-48th in rebounds (116).

Additionally, Cherney's 21 rebounds against Ferris State (1/6/22) were tied for the 11th most in a game this season. Shea Tripp's seven steals against Northwood (12/11/21) are tied-for-the-19th most in a single game this season.

STINGY DEFENSE
The Warrior defense has been outstanding so far through 10 games.

In fact, this year's squad is on pace to have the lowest opponent field goal percentage in program history. WSU is currently allowing opponents to shoot 34.1 percent from the floor. The school record is 35.9 percent by the 1977-78 team.

1: .341 / 2021-22
2: .359 / 1977-78
3: .368 / 2012-13
4: .384 / 2014-15
5: .386 / 1980-81

TABBED FOR THIRD
In the GLIAC Preseason poll, the Warriors were picked to finish third in the South Division behind Grand Valley State and Northwood. Both of those teams received first-place votes.

Michigan Tech and Ferris State were the top two teams in the North Division. Both of those squads received first-place votes.

CHERNEY MAKES HISTORY
In the loss at Ashland on Nov. 28, Sam Cherney collected a game-high 14 rebounds, which made her WSU's all-time leading rebounder. Cherney currently has 795 career rebounds passing former Warrior great Shareta Brown, who totaled 769 rebounds in her two seasons at WSU (2013-15).

NON-CONFERENCE NOTES
The Warriors started the season 4-0 for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign and lost its first game of the season at sixth-ranked Ashland on Nov. 28.

WARRIOR ALL-ACCESS
Every home basketball game this season will be streamed at WSUAthletics.com/watch with Warrior broadcaster Kevin Brechmacher calling the action.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#13 Sam Cherney: F; 6' 3"; Junior

#4 Becca Fugate: G; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#10 Alexis Miller: G; 5' 7"; Junior

#21 Kate Sherwood: G; 5' 8"; Junior

#22 Emma Anderson: F; 6' 2"; Freshman

#42 Maxine Moore: F; 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior

#23 Shea Tripp: F; 5' 10"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#13 Sam Cherney
: 6' 3"; Junior
: F

#4 Becca Fugate
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: G

#10 Alexis Miller
: 5' 7"; Junior
: G

#21 Kate Sherwood
: 5' 8"; Junior
: G

#22 Emma Anderson
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: F

#42 Maxine Moore
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior
: F

#23 Shea Tripp
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: F